Apparatus and method for detecting and connecting counterpart device by capturing image of counterpart device in wireless device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method detect and connect a counterpart device by capturing an image of the counterpart device in a wireless device. A Relative Distance Value (RDV) between the wireless device and the counterpart device is determined via image capture using a camera. The counterpart device is identified using the determined RDV.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is related to and claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Nov. 17, 2010 and assigned Serial No.10-2010-0114249, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless device. More particularly,the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detectingand connecting a counterpart device by capturing an image of thecounterpart device in a wireless device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Digital convergence denotes that various digital technology-basedproducts and services are merged and born as a product or service of anew type. For example, digital convergence denotes a new technology andservice field that displays data from a small screen to a large screensuch that many people view the data together, or allows a user to usecontents without terminating connection, even during movement, throughcooperation between devices, or transmit data to a different device toshare the data or allow the data to be freely used.

As a representative technology of digital convergence, an applicationservice using a Digital Living Network Alliance/Universal Plug and Play(DLNA/UPnP) exists. However, to share contents or data between devicesin a home network system of the DLNA, a series of procedures should beperformed. This series of procedures is neither easy nor intuitive for auser to manipulate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is aprimary object to provide at least the advantages described below.Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and a method for detecting and connecting a counterpart deviceby capturing an image of the counterpart device in a wireless device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and amethod for capturing an image of a counterpart device via a camerainside a wireless device in order for the wireless device to detect thecounterpart device to be connected and intuitively connect thecounterpart device when the wireless device desires to perform apredetermined function (for example, an image view function, amultimedia play function, a data backup function, a data share function,a synchronization function, a slide show function, and such) between thewireless device and the counterpart device in the same networkenvironment.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and amethod for determining a shooting distance between an object and awireless device performing an image capturing when the wireless devicecaptures an image of a counterpart device, determining a RelativeDistance Value (RDV) based on the determined shooting distance value,and using the determined RDV as a unique identification factor of awireless device whose connection is desired.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand a method for using auxiliary information (for example, bearingsinformation, position information, radio signal intensity information,and such) together with an RDV as a unique identification factor of acounterpart device whose connection is desired in a wireless device.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method foroperating a wireless device in a network environment where the wirelessdevice and a counterpart device exist is provided. The method includesdetermining a Relative Distance Value (RDV) between the wireless deviceand the counterpart device via image capture using a camera. Thecounterpart device is identified using the determined RDV.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusof a wireless device in a network environment where the wireless deviceand a counterpart device exist is provided. The apparatus includes acamera unit and a counterpart device registration and connectionmanager. The camera unit captures an image of the counterpart device.The counterpart device registration and connection manager determines aRelative Distance Value (RDV) between the wireless device and thecounterpart device via the captured image, and identifies thecounterpart device using the determined RDV.

Other aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses embodiments of the invention.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and“comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion withoutlimitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases“associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivativesthereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with,contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, becommunicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximateto, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and theterm “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controlsat least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware,firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particularcontroller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally orremotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are providedthroughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the artshould understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitionsapply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words andphrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a sample process for determining a shooting distanceup to a counterpart device within the same network in a wireless deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a sample process for determining a shooting distanceup to a counterpart device within the same network in a wireless deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a process for registering a counterpartdevice whose connection is desired in order to perform a specificfunction in the same network in a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of a sample process for receiving a device type and aname of a counterpart device in a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a process for connecting a counterpart deviceregistered with respect to a specific function in the same network in awireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view of a sample process for connecting a counterpart deviceregistered with respect to a specific function in the same network in awireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 7, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged wireless device. The followingdescription with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided toassist in a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the inventionas defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes variousspecific details to assist in that understanding but these are to beregarded merely as examples. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that various changes and modifications of theembodiments described herein can be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-knownfunctions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of embodiments of the presentinvention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for thepurpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an alternative fordetecting and connecting a counterpart device by capturing an image ofthe counterpart device in a wireless device.

More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide analternative for capturing an image of a counterpart device through acamera inside a wireless device in order for the wireless device todetect the counterpart device whose connection is desired andintuitively connect the counterpart device when the wireless devicedesires to perform a predetermined function (for example, an image viewfunction, a multimedia play function, a data backup function, a datashare function, a synchronization function, a slide show function, andsuch) between the wireless device and the counterpart device in the samenetwork environment.

Generally, when capturing an image, a user does not move for apredetermined time in order to form an image of an object on an imagesensor inside a camera module of a wireless device. And after the imageof the object is focused, the user performs a shooting (capturing)operation. The wireless device proposed by an embodiment of the presentinvention determines a factor of a ‘capturing distance’ between anobject and the wireless device performing a capturing operation,determines a ‘Relative Distance Value (RDV)’ based on the determined‘capturing distance’ value, and uses the determined RDV as a uniqueidentification factor of a counterpart device whose connection isdesired. In this situation, when heights (e.g. sizes) of relevantdevices are not substantially the same, even though the plurality ofdevices exist in a small-scale network environment generally, the RDVdetermined after an image of an object is focused on an image sensorduring image capturing has a different value depending devices. When aplurality of devices that have substantially the same height exist inthe same network environment, RDVs of the relevant devices may have thesame value. In this situation, the relevant devices may be identifiedusing auxiliary information. For example, the auxiliary information maybe bearings information, position information, Received Signal StrengthIndicator (RSSI) information, and such, which may be obtained via anauxiliary unit (for example, a geomagnetic sensor, a Global PositioningSystem (GPS) module, a Radio Frequency (RF) module, and such) inside awireless device.

In the following description, a wireless device denotes a mobile deviceon which a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) module, a camera module, ageomagnetic sensor, and a GPS module are mounted. In addition, acounterpart device denotes a network device whose movement is limitedand which can be connected wirelessly. DLNA/UPnP technology is appliedto the counterpart device.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are for connection inan application layer between a wireless device and a counterpart devicewhose connection is desired, and assume that connection in a networklayer is completed in advance.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless device includes a controller 100,a sensor unit 102, a communication unit 104, a camera unit 106, an imageprocessor 108, a display unit 110, an input unit 112, a memory 114, anda counterpart device registration and connection manager 116.

Referring to FIG. 1, the controller 100 controls an overall operation ofthe wireless device. More particularly, the controller 100 processes afunction for detecting and connecting a counterpart device through imagecapturing.

The sensor unit 102 may be realized by combining at least one of ageomagnetic sensor, a GPS module, an RF module, and obtain auxiliaryinformation (for example, bearings information, position information,and RSSI information) used as a unique identification factor of acounterpart device.

The communication unit 104 includes an RF transmitter for up-convertingand amplifying the frequency of a transmission signal, and an RFreceiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal and down-convertingthe frequency of the received signal.

The camera unit 106 includes an image sensor for converting a lightsignal detected upon image capturing into an electrical signal, and asignal processor for converting an analog image signal capturing by theimage sensor into digital image data to obtain an image of a counterpartdevice. Here, the image sensor may be a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or aComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. The signalprocessor may be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

The image processor 108 generates screen data for displaying cameraimage data provided from the camera unit 106. The image processor 108has an image codec (not shown). The image codec (not shown) codes imagedata according to a predetermined scheme, or decodes encoded image datainto original image data.

The display unit 110 displays state information generated during anoperation of the wireless device, characters, moving images, stillimages, and such. The display unit 110 may be a color Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD).

The input unit 112 includes a plurality of numerical keys and aplurality of function keys such as a menu button, a cancel (delete)button, an OK button, a TALK button, an END button, a shooting button,an Internet access button, and such, and provides key input datacorresponding to a key pressed by a user to the controller 100. Moreparticularly, the input unit 112 receives a device type and a name of acounterpart device from the user.

The memory 114 stores microcodes of programs for processes and controlsof the controller 100, and various reference data. More particularly,the memory 114 stores a program for detecting and connecting acounterpart device through image capturing. In addition, the memory 114maps and stores a captured image of a counterpart device obtained by thecamera unit 106, a device type and a name input via the input unit 112,a Relative Distance Value (RDV) determined via the counterpart deviceregistration and connection manager 116, and auxiliary information (forexample, bearings information, position information, and RSSIinformation) obtained via the sensor unit 102.

The counterpart device registration and connection manager 116 processesa predetermined function (for example, an image view function, amultimedia play function, a data backup function, a data share function,a synchronization function, and a slide show function, and such) betweena wireless device and a counterpart device by capturing an image of thecounterpart device via the camera unit 106 to detect the counterpartdevice whose connected is desired, and intuitively connecting thecounterpart device. In addition, when capturing an image of acounterpart device (object), the counterpart device registration andconnection manager 116 processes a function for determining a shootingdistance between the object and the wireless device that performs theshooting operation, and determining an RDV based on the determinedshooting distance to use it as a unique identification factor of thecounterpart device whose connection is desired while an image of theobject is focused and resulted on a focus zone. In this situation, whenheights of relevant devices are not the same, even though the relevantdevices exist in a small-scale network environment generally, the RDVdetermined after an image of an object is focused on an image sensorduring image capturing may be different depending on devices. When aplurality of devices that have the same height exist in the same networkenvironment, RDVs of the relevant devices may have the same value. Inthis situation, the relevant devices may be identified using auxiliaryinformation (for example, bearings information, position information,and RSSI information).

Meanwhile, while an image of a counterpart device is captured in anembodiment of the present invention, the height of the counterpartdevice (the vertical axis length of an object) should be focusedsuitable for the height of a focusing region called a focus zone insidethe wireless device. Here, the height of the focus zone corresponds tothe vertical axis length of an image sensor depending on an actualshooting direction of the wireless device. For this purpose, whencapturing an image of the counterpart device, the wireless device mayguide a user through an alarm such that an image of the object may belocated within a setting range of the focus zone.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method fordetermining an RDV between an object and the wireless device thatperforms a shooting operation includes determining a shooting distancebetween an object and the wireless device that performs the shootingoperation, and determining an RDV based on the shooting distance Dobtained through this operation.

A correlation of factors related to the shooting distance is describedbelow. An image of an object is formed on an image sensor (or a filmwhen a film camera is used) by a camera lens. During this process, fourfactors, that is, the size of the object, the size (which issubstantially the same as the size of the image sensor) of the imageformed on the image sensor (that is, object image), a focal length ofthe camera lens (that is, a distance between the camera lens and theimage sensor), and a shooting distance (that is, a distance between thecamera and the object) influence one another. That is, when the size ofthe object increases, the size of the object image also increases. Whenthe size of the object decreases, the size of the object image alsoreduces. In addition, when the focal length of the camera lensincreases, the size of the object image also increases. When the focallength of the camera lens reduces, the size of the object image alsoreduces. Also, when the shooting distance is short, the size of theobject image increases. When the shooting distance is long, the size ofthe object image decreases. Here, the ‘size’ referred with respect tothe object, the object image, and the image sensor denotes the length,e.g., the height.

Therefore, a relation that a ratio of the height of the object over theheight of the image sensor is equal to a ratio of the shooting distanceover the focal length may be used. Accordingly, the shooting distance Dmay be determined using Equation 1 below.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D} = {\frac{{{Height}(H)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {object}}{{{Height}(h)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {sensor}} \times {Focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} (d)}} & \left\lbrack {{Eqn}.\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Here, the height (h) of the image sensor is a value of factory settingthat may be standardized for each model of the wireless device. Thefocal length d is a distance between the image sensor and the cameralens, and is a value calculated inside while the object image is focusedon the focus zone (while auto focusing or zoom in/out is performed). Theheight H of the object may be known by receiving a device type of arelevant device from a user when initially registering the counterpartdevice whose connection is desired. For example, the wireless device mayreceive a model name of the counterpart device whose connection isdesired and access a web server to obtain basic dimension informationregarding the relevant device, or manage basic information regardingwirelessly connectable devices and store the same in the wireless devicein a database or table.

FIG. 2 is a view of a sample process for determining a shooting distanceup to a counterpart device within the same network in a wireless deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, when capturing an image of the counterpart device,the wireless device may guide a user to the general location of thecounterpart device such that the height of the counterpart device(object) in focus is suitable for the height of the focus zone (heightof the image sensor) inside the wireless device (i.e., the image of theobject and the height of the focus zone coincide with each other) byinforming that the object image and the height of the focus zone do notcoincide and requesting the user to match the height of the focus zoneusing voice output via a speaker or using message output via a displayunit. In this situation, the position of the user changes, but the focaldistance maintains a reference focal distance. Therefore, a shootingdistance determined by Equation 1 may be used as an RDV which is aunique identification factor of a counterpart device whose connection isdesired.

FIG. 3 is a view of a sample process for determining a shooting distanceup to a counterpart device within the same network in a wireless deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user may allow an image of an object and theheight of a focus zone to coincide with each other by using anauto-focus function and a zoom function even when the user's positiondoes not change. In this situation, a focal distance changes, and thus aproportional constant is determined by comparing a focal distance uponshooting at a basic focal distance, and the proportional constant may bereflected in determining an RDV according to Equations 2-4.

Alternatively, even when an image of the object and the height of thefocus zone are not allowed to coincide with each other, a proportionalconstant depending on sizes is determined by comparing the image of theobject with the size (area) of the focus zone, and the proportionalconstant may be reflected in determining an RDV according to Equation 2.

Therefore, the RDV according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay be determined using Equation 2, and a relevant device existing in anetwork environment may be identified using the determined RDV.

$\begin{matrix}{{R\; D\; V} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D}{\begin{matrix}{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ} \times} \\{{focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{cont}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}}\end{matrix}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eqn}.\mspace{14mu} 2} \right\rbrack \\{{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ}} = \frac{{object}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} I_{zone}}{{focus}\mspace{14mu} {zone}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} F_{zone}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eqn}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack \\{{{focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{s}}{{basic}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{b}}} & \left\lbrack {{Eqn}.\mspace{14mu} 4} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Here, in Equation 3, the object image size is the size of the objectimage, and the focus zone size is a reference value of the vertical sizeof the object image. The focus zone size is related with an image sensorsize. The focus zone size may be equal to or less than the verticallength of the image sensor. In the present invention, the focus zonesize may be defined by the height of the image sensor.

Also, the basic focal distance is a focal distance when there is nozoom-in or zoom-out. The shooting focal distance is a focal distanceused for actual shooting.

When a plurality of devices that have the same height exist in the samenetwork environment, the relevant devices may have the same RDV. In thissituation, the relevant devices cannot be identified using only the RDV.In an embodiment, a process of adding and registering auxiliaryinformation that can identify the relevant devices when initiallyregistering a counterpart device whose connection is desired isproposed. For example, the auxiliary information may be bearingsinformation, position information, RSSI information, and such, which maybe obtained via an auxiliary device (for example, a geomagnetic sensor,a GPS module, an RF module, and such) inside the wireless device. Thewireless device may obtain absolute position information of a relevantdevice via the GPS module, and may measure a magnetic field value, thatis, bearings information detected at a specific position using ageomagnetic distortion phenomenon via the geomagnetic sensor. Here, theposition information may be obtained using cell-ID (Identification)information and RSSI information received from a base station, or may beknown using, RSSI received from an Access Point (AP) existing in thesame network.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a process for registering a counterpartdevice whose connection is desired in order to perform a specificfunction in the same network in a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention. For the wireless device to capturea counterpart device whose connection is desired, intuitively connect tothe relevant counterpart device, and perform a designated functionbetween the wireless device and the counterpart device, a process forcollecting and registering information that can be used as a uniqueidentification factor of the counterpart device is performed. FIGS. 4Aand 4B are flowcharts illustrating a process thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the wireless device drives a camera instep 401.

The wireless device determines whether a counterpart device informationregistration menu for a specific function is selected according to auser's key manipulation in step 403. For example, the function may beone of an image view function, a multimedia play function, a data backupfunction, a data share function, a synchronization function, and a slideshow function. Various functions may be provided beside these.

When the counterpart device information registration menu for thespecific function is not selected in step 403, the wireless deviceperforms a general image capturing function.

In contrast, when the counterpart device information registration menufor the specific function is selected in step 403, the wireless devicedisplays a focus zone and a preview image corresponding to cameracapturing on a display unit in step 405.

The wireless device determines whether a shooting key is selectedaccording to the user's key manipulation in step 407.

When the shooting key is selected in step 407, the wireless devicedetermines whether an object image (excluding a background) and theheight of the focus zone coincide with each other in the preview imagein step 409.

When the object image (excluding the background) and the height of thefocus zone coincide with each other in the preview image in step 409,the wireless device captures the object in step 411.

The wireless device displays the captured image (that is, object image)obtained via the capturing and displays an input window for receiving adevice type and a name on the display unit in step 413.

The wireless device determines whether the device type and the name of acounterpart device are input via the input window in step 415.

When the device type and the name of the counterpart device are inputvia the input window in step 415, the wireless device obtains heightinformation of the counterpart device based on the input device type anddetermines a shooting distance D using the obtained height informationin step 417. Here, the shooting distance D may be determined usingEquation 1.

The wireless device determines an RDV based on the determined shootingdistance D in step 419. Here, the RDV is determined using Equation 2.

The wireless device determines whether the same RDV as the determinedRDV exists in a database in step 421.

When the same RDV as the determined RDV does not exist in the databasein step 421, the wireless device maps the determined RDV to a capturedimage of the counterpart device as counterpart device informationregarding the specific function, and displays the mapping result on thedisplay unit in step 423.

The wireless device determines whether a registration key for thedisplayed counterpart device information regarding the specific functionis input in step 425.

When the registration key is input in step 425, the wireless deviceregisters the counterpart device information for the specific functionin step 427.

In contrast, when the same RDV as the determined RDV exists in thedatabase in step 421, the wireless device collects auxiliary informationin step 431, and maps the determined RDV and the collected auxiliaryinformation to the captured image of the counterpart device as thecounterpart device information regarding the specific function, anddisplays the mapping results on the display unit in step 433, andproceeds to step 425 to perform subsequent steps.

In contrast, when the shooting key is not selected in step 407, thewireless device returns to step 405 to repeatedly perform subsequentsteps.

In contrast, when the object image (excluding the background) and theheight of the focus zone do not coincide with each other in the previewimage in step 409, the wireless device informs that the object image andthe height of the focus zone do not coincide with each other using anaudio or visual notification, such as voice output via the speaker orusing message output via the display unit in step 429, and then returnsto step 405 to repeatedly perform subsequent steps. At this point, auser may allow the object image and the height of the focus zone tocoincide with each other using a position movement, or an auto-focusfunction or a zoom function of the camera.

FIG. 5 is a view of a sample process for receiving a device type and aname of a counterpart device in a wireless device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the wireless device captures an image of thecounterpart device whose connection is desired, displays the capturedimage (that is, object image) on a display unit, and displays a windowfor receiving a device type and a name. Here, the receiving of thedevice type of the counterpart device is for obtaining heightinformation of the counterpart device for determining a shootingdistance. The wireless device may receive the device type of therelevant counterpart device by displaying a list of model names ofactually connectable counterpart devices and allowing a user to selectone of the displayed model names. The wireless device may make, manage,and hold a database of basic information (for example, the height of acounterpart device) depending on the device type of the actuallyconnectable counterpart device, may automatically search for and obtaina database of a counterpart device not held by the wireless device via aseparate web server, and may update the database as the latestinformation through periodic searching. The receiving of the name of thecounterpart device is for mapping a device connected and discovered in anetwork environment via device discovery to a user friendly name (forexample, “living room TV” or “main room TV”).

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a process for connecting a counterpart deviceregistered with respect to a specific function in the same network in awireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the wireless device determines whether acounterpart device connection menu for performing a designated functionbetween the wireless device and the counterpart device is selectedaccording to a user's key manipulation in step 601. For example, thefunction may be one of an image view function, a multimedia playfunction, a data backup function, a data share function, asynchronization function, a slide show function, and so forth. Variousfunctions may be provided beside these.

When the counterpart device connection menu for performing thedesignated specific function between the wireless device and thecounterpart device is selected in step 601, the wireless device drives acamera in step 603, and displays a focus zone and a preview imagecorresponding to camera capturing on a display unit in step 605.

The wireless device determines whether a shooting key is selected instep 607.

When the shooting key is selected in step 607, the wireless devicedetermines whether an object image (excluding a background) and theheight of a focus zone coincide with each other in the preview image instep 609.

When the object image (excluding the background) and the height of thefocus zone coincide with each other in the preview image in step 609,the wireless device captures the object in step 611.

The wireless device displays the captured image (that is, object image)obtained by the capturing on the display unit and displays an inputwindow for receiving a device type in step 613.

The wireless device determines whether the device type of thecounterpart device is input via the input window in step 615.

When the device type of the counterpart device is input via the inputwindow in step 615, the wireless device obtains height information ofthe counterpart device based on the input device type, and determines ashooting distance D using the obtained height information in step 617.Here, the shooting distance D is determined using Equation 1.

The wireless device determines an RDV based on the determined shootingdistance Din step 619. Here, the RDV is determined using Equation 2.

The wireless device determines whether one RDV that is the same as thedetermined RDV within a predetermined error range exists in a databasein step 621.

When one RDV that is the same as the determined RDV within thepredetermined error range exists in the database in step 621, thewireless device extracts the captured image of the counterpart devicemapped to the RDV from the database in step 623.

The wireless device displays the captured image of the extractedcounterpart device on the display unit in step 625, and performs adesignated function between the wireless device and the relevantcounterpart device in step 627.

In contrast, when one RDV that is the same as the determined RDV withinthe predetermined error range does not exist in the database in step621, the wireless device determines whether a plurality of RDVs that arethe same as the determined RDV within a predetermined error range existin the database in step 633.

When the plurality of RDVs that are the same as the determined RDVwithin the predetermined error range exist in the database in step 633,the wireless device collects auxiliary information in step 635, extractsa captured image of the counterpart device mapped to the RDV and thecollected auxiliary information in step 637, and then proceeds to step625 to perform subsequent steps.

In contrast, when the plurality of RDVs that are the same as thedetermined RDV within the predetermined error range do not exist in thedatabase in step 633, the wireless device informs that relevantcounterpart device information is not registered using voice output viaa speaker or using message output via the display unit in step 631, andreturns to step 605 to repeatedly perform subsequent steps.

In contrast, when the shooting key is not selected in step 607, thewireless device returns to step 605 to repeatedly perform subsequentsteps.

In contrast, when the object image excluding the background and theheight of the focus zone do not coincide with each other in the previewimage in step 609, the wireless device informs that the object image andthe height of the focus zone do not coincide with each other using anaudio or visual indicator, such as voice output via a speaker or usingmessage output via the display unit, requests a user to match the objectimage and height of the focus zone in step 629, and then returns to step605 to repeatedly perform subsequent steps. At this point, the user maymatch the object image with the height of the focus zone using aposition movement, or an auto-focus function or a zoom function of acamera.

FIG. 7 is a view of a sample process for connecting a counterpart deviceregistered with respect to a specific function in the same network in awireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when desiring to continue to view relevant contentsvia a living room TV while viewing the contents via a wireless device, auser may click a counterpart device connection menu of the wirelessdevice. At this point, it may be assumed that connection of all devicesinside the same network has been completed in a network layer. As theclick of the counterpart device connection menu is detected while thewireless device executes the contents, the wireless device drives acamera module to allow the user to capture a counterpart device whoseconnection is desired. At this point, the user may capture the livingroom TV using the wireless device, and the wireless device may identifythe living room TV through the capturing, and perform a function definedin advance between the wireless device and the living room TV, forexample, transmit data to the living room TV to allow the user tocontinue to view the relevant contents via the living room TV.

Though a process for determining an RDV between a wireless device and acounterpart device using the same method as the method of registeringthe counterpart device to allow the wireless device to connect thecounterpart device registered for a specific function in the samenetwork, and identifying the counterpart device using the RDV has beendescribed in embodiments of the present invention, a process forcapturing an image of a counterpart device, comparing the captured imagewith an image registered in a database, and when the same image within apredetermined error range is registered in the database, performing afunction designated in advance between the wireless device and therelevant counterpart device may be provided.

In addition, images captured at various directions and positions may bemapped to an RDV determined for one counterpart device, and stored andutilized.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an advantage of performinga function determined in advance (for example, an image view function, amultimedia play function, a data backup function, a data share function,a synchronization function, a slide show function, and such) between awireless device and a counterpart device by capturing an image of thecounterpart device via a camera of the wireless device to detect thecounterpart device whose connection is desired and intuitivelyconnecting the counterpart device. For example, while viewing an imagevia an image viewer in a wireless device, a user captures a printerusing a camera module inside the wireless device, such that the wirelessdevice is network-connected with the printer to automatically output animage. Such a function may add convenience to the user and simplify aseries of procedures that must be completed for performing apredetermined function of a device frequently connected.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, awireless device determines a shooting distance between an object and thewireless device that performs a capturing operation while an image ofthe object is focused and resulted on a focus zone when capturing theimage of the counterpart device (object) whose connection is desiredusing an image sensor inside a camera module mounted in the wirelessdevice without a separate distance measuring device, and determines anRDV based on the determined shooting, distance value to use the RDV as aunique identification factor of the counterpart device whose connectionis desired. Accordingly, an additional device or cost may not berequired, and a counterpart device captured at a specific position andseparated by a specific distance may be easily connected.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope ofthe present invention should not be limited to the above-describedembodiments but should be determined by not only the appended claims butalso the equivalents thereof.

1. A method for operating a wireless device in a network environmentwhere the wireless device and a counterpart device exist, the methodcomprising: determining a Relative Distance Value (RDV) between thewireless device and an object comprising the counterpart device viaimage capture using a camera; and identifying the counterpart deviceusing the determined RDV.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingperforming a function determined in advance between the wireless deviceand the counterpart device using the identified counterpart device. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the function determined in advancebetween the wireless device and the counterpart device comprises atleast one of an image view function, a multimedia play function, a databackup function, a data share function, a synchronization function, anda slide show function.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining theRDV comprises: displaying a focus zone and a preview image correspondingto the captured image on a display unit; when a shooting key isselected, determining whether an object image and a height of the focuszone coincide in the preview image; when the object image and the heightof the focus zone coincide in the preview image, capturing the object;and when the object image and the height of the focus zone do notcoincide in the preview image, indicating that the object image and theheight of the focus zone do not coincide and requesting to match theobject image and the height of the focus zone.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the object image and the height of the focus zone are matchedusing at least one of a user's position movement, an auto-focus functionof a camera, and a zoom function of the camera.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein determining the RDV further comprises: displaying an inputwindow for receiving a device type of the counterpart device on adisplay unit; and when the device type of the counterpart device isinput via the input window, determining a height of the object based onthe input device type and determining a shooting distance based on theheight of the object, a focal length of the camera, and a height of animage sensor of the camera, wherein the shooting distance D isdetermined using Equation below:${{Shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D} = {\frac{{{Height}(H)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {object}}{{{Height}(h)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {sensor}} \times {Focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} (d)^{*}}$7. The method of claim 6, wherein the RDV is determined based on thedetermined shooting distance using the Equations below: $\begin{matrix}{{R\; D\; V} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D}{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ} \times {focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{cont}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}}} \\{{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ}} = \frac{{object}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} I_{zone}}{{focus}\mspace{14mu} {zone}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} F_{zone}}} \\{{{focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{s}}{{basic}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{b}}}\end{matrix}$ wherein the object image size I_(zone) is the size of theobject image, the focus zone size F_(zone) is a reference value of avertical size of the object image, the basic focal distance d_(b) is afocal distance when there is no zoom-in or zoom-out, and the shootingfocal distance d_(s) is a focal distance used for actual shooting. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the counterpart devicecomprises: determining whether an RDV that is within a predeterminederror range of the determined RDV exists in a database; and when the RDVthat is within the predetermined error range of the determined RDVexists in the database, extracting a stored image of the counterpartdevice mapped to the RDV that is within the predetermined error range ofthe determined RDV from the database.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinextracting a stored image of the counterpart device comprises: when aplurality of RDVs that are within the predetermined error range of thedetermined RDV exist in the database, collecting auxiliary informationfor identifying the counterpart device; and extracting the stored imageof the counterpart device mapped to the RDV that is within thepredetermined error range of the determined RDV and the collectedauxiliary information from the database, wherein the auxiliaryinformation comprises at least one of position information and bearingsinformation.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, when the RDVthat is within the predetermined error range of the determined RDV doesnot exist in the database, indicating that relevant counterpart deviceinformation is not registered.
 11. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising registering a counterpart device to be connected forperforming at least one specific function, by mapping the determined RDVto a captured image of the object and storing the same.
 12. The methodof claim 11, further comprising: determining whether a plurality of RDVsthat are within the predetermined error range of the determined RDVexist in a database; when a plurality of RDVs that are within thepredetermined error range of the determined RDV exist in the database,collecting auxiliary information for identifying the counterpart device;and mapping the determined RDV and the collected auxiliary informationto the captured image of the counterpart device and storing the same,wherein the auxiliary information comprises at least one of positioninformation and bearings information.
 13. An apparatus of a wirelessdevice in a network environment where the wireless device and acounterpart device exist, the apparatus comprising: a camera unitconfigured to capture an image of an object comprising the counterpartdevice; and a counterpart device registration and connection managerconfigured to determine a Relative Distance Value (RDV) between thewireless device and the object via the captured image, and identifyingthe counterpart device using the determined RDV.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the counterpart device registration and connectionmanager is further configured to perform a function determined inadvance between the wireless device and the counterpart device using theidentified counterpart device.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe function determined in advance between the wireless device and thecounterpart device comprises at least one of an image view function, amultimedia play function, a data backup function, a data share function,a synchronization function, and a slide show function.
 16. The apparatusof claim 13, further comprising a display unit configured to display afocus zone and a preview image when capturing the image of the object,wherein the counterpart device registration and connection manager isfurther configured to determine whether an object image and a height ofthe focus zone coincide in the preview image when a shooting key isselected, control the camera unit to capture the object and when theobject image and the height of the focus zone coincide in the previewimage, and when the object image and the height of the focus zone do notcoincide in the preview image, indicate that the object image and theheight of the focus zone do not coincide with each other and request tomatch the object image and the height of the focus zone.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the counterpart device registration andconnection manager is further configured to match the object image andthe height of the focus zone using at least one of a user's positionmovement, an auto-focus function of a camera, and a zoom function of thecamera.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the display unit isfurther configured to display an input window for receiving a devicetype of the counterpart device, wherein the counterpart deviceregistration and connection manager is further configured to, when thedevice type of the counterpart device is input via the input window,determine a height of the object based on the input device type, anddetermine a shooting distance based on the height of the object, a focallength of the camera, and a height of an image sensor of the camera, andwherein the shooting distance is determined using Equation below:${{Shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D} = {\frac{{{Height}(H)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {object}}{{{Height}(h)}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {sensor}} \times {Focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} (d)^{*}}$19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the RDV is determined based onthe determined shooting distance using the Equations below:$\begin{matrix}{{R\; D\; V} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} D}{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ} \times {focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{cont}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}}} \\{{{image}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} ɛ}} = \frac{{object}\mspace{14mu} {image}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} I_{zone}}{{focus}\mspace{14mu} {zone}\mspace{14mu} {size}\mspace{14mu} F_{zone}}} \\{{{focal}\mspace{14mu} {length}\mspace{14mu} {proportional}\mspace{14mu} {{const}.\mspace{14mu} \eta}} = \frac{{shooting}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{s}}{{basic}\mspace{14mu} {focal}\mspace{14mu} {distance}\mspace{14mu} d_{b}}}\end{matrix}$ wherein the object image size I_(zone) is the size of theobject image, the focus zone size F_(zone) is a reference value of avertical size of the object image, the basic focal distance d_(b) is afocal distance when there is no zoom-in or zoom-out, and the shootingfocal distance d_(s) is a focal distance used for actual shooting. 20.The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the counterpart device registrationand connection manager is further configured to determine whether an RDVthat is within a predetermined error range of the determined RDV existsin a database, and when the RDV that is within a predetermined errorrange of the determined RDV exists in the database, extract a storedimage of the counterpart device mapped to the RDV from the database. 21.The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the counterpart device registrationand connection manager is further configured to, when a plurality ofRDVs that are within the predetermined error range of the determined RDVexist in the database, collect auxiliary information for identifying thecounterpart device, and extract the stored image of the counterpartdevice mapped to the RDV that is within the predetermined error range ofthe determined RDV and the collected auxiliary information from thedatabase, wherein the auxiliary information comprises at least one ofposition information and bearings information.
 22. The apparatus ofclaim 20, wherein the counterpart device registration and connectionmanager is further configured to, when the RDV that is within thepredetermined error range of the determined RDV does not exist in thedatabase, indicate that relevant counterpart device information is notregistered.
 23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the counterpartdevice registration and connection manager is further configured toregister a counterpart device to be connected for performing at leastone specific function by mapping the determined RDV to a captured imageof the counterpart device and storing the same.
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 23, wherein the counterpart device registration and connectionmanager is further configured to determine whether a plurality of RDVsthat are within the predetermined error range of the determined RDVexist in a database, collect auxiliary information for identifying thecounterpart device when a plurality of RDVs that are within thepredetermined error range of the determined RDV exist in the database,and map and store the determined RDV and the collected auxiliaryinformation to the captured image of the counterpart device, wherein theauxiliary information comprises at least one of position information andbearings information.